Pediatric Informatics: Computer Applications in Child Health (Health ...

462 G.R. Kim and S.T. Weinberg
Information technology should not replace:
Interpersonal components of pediatric care: meeting families on the first visit
(including mutual acquaintance of family and provider through comprehensive
history and thorough physical examination)
Ongoing communication and education of patients and families on anticipatory
guidance and management of acute and chronic disease
Person-to-person reassurance and guidance in patient and family decisions for
care in response to the new clinical information (laboratory test results, consultations,
etc.)
Direct sharing of information (when possible) with another provider when a
patient’s care is transferred (either temporarily or permanently)
35.3 New Problems in Communication, Culture
and Health
35.3.1 Diversity and Disparity: A New Babel?
Increasing diversity in the US population is creating an increasing need for solutions
that address auditory/visual, language, 9 literacy, 10 cultural 11,12 and health literacy
13 barriers and disparities in access to health (and health information) services.
Solutions to eliminate these barriers and disparities 14,15 must include information
tools and services to help patients, families and providers to communicate 16,17 health
information with their providers. Solutions will likely need to combine accessibility
and translation tools, interpreter services and provider language training. A major
challenge will include cost management of developing and maintaining resources.
35.3.2 Information Technology in Real
Life: A Brave New World?
The pervasiveness information and communication technology (ICT) and media
have created new needs for research into its direct effects on children’s health.
Biological effects associated with ICT and media have included:
Photosensitive seizures 18,19 triggered by television, leading to technical restrictions
in television programming
Repetitive strain injury and tendonitis with computer game use and overuse 20
Obesity and its sequelae, associated with time-displacement, increased caloric
intake and reduced metabolic rates during television viewing. 21–24 There appears
to be an association with the length of time spent on ICT activities (which may
be less for computers than television 25,26 ), and certain computer game designs 27–29
may increase physical activity (dancing). 30